Yarn holder for manually knitting multicolored argyle socks



Feb. 10, 1953 E. FlTTS ErAL 2,628,042

YARN HOLDER FOR MANUALLY KNITTING MULTICOLORED ARGYLE SOCKS Filed March l, 1949 A uylnulu unlu i un nu!!! I l' I i ff- /3 'l A "1 Y 'ii' im lf" l/ jig 3 INVENToRs Patented Feb. l0, 1953 UNITED STATE YARN HOLDER FOR MANUALLY KNITTING MULTICOLORED ARGYLE SOCKS Edna Fitts, Asheville, N. C., and Mary String-held Allen, Burlington, Vt.

Application March 1, 1949, Serial No. 79,008

This invention relates to a yarn holder for manually knitting multicolored articles such as argyle socks. In this operation the knitter must use and control a number of balls of yarn at the same time. Without some form of mechanical aid, even a skillful knitter has difficulty in manipulating the balls and strands of yarn and in preventing the unraveling of the ballsfand the 'tangling of the yarn. The extent to which aid may be given is restricted by the fact that the weaving of the various colored strands re- 'quires mobile balls of yarn.

The mechanical aids customarily used consist of devices on which the balls of yarn are wrapped. These devices, which take a number of forms, provide means for gripping the strand of yarn so that the knitter, after using a particular ball of yarn which is Wrapped around one of these devices, adjusts the strand in the gripping means thus preventing the ball of yarn from unraveling. In the usual knitting operation, the knitter holds the balls, whether wrapped on these devices or not, in her lap or in the ordinary knitting bag and the control and manipulation of the balls and the numerous strands of yarn drawn therefrom are left to her individual dexterity.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide means for holding the balls of yarn and for controlling the drawing of the strands of yarn from the balls of yarn in such a manner that not only are the balls of yarn prevented from unraveling but also they are retained in an orderly, relatively stationary position with each ball of yarn maneuverable without disturbing the order or disposition of the other balls of yarn.

In accordance with our invention, a box is partitioned into a number of compartments and is provided with twin covers having openings through which strands of yarn are drawn in the knitting operation from balls of yarn stored in the compartments. The structure of the twin covers is such that the knitter may reach and handle the ball of yarn in any compartment Without moving the balls in the other compartments. This arrangement not only prevents the unraveling of the balls of yarn but also facilitates the control and manipulation of the strands ywithout limiting the mobility of the balls and provides a convenient and practical way to store the yarn when not in use.

Brieily described, our yarn holder comprises a box, the interior of which is partitioned into a plurality of compartments, twin covers hingedly connected to the box and disposed for covering relation with the compartments, and semi-circu- 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-146) 2 lar openings spaced in the extending edges of the twin covers, whereby circular openings disposed in spaced relation to the compartments lare formed by the closing of the twin covers.

vIn beginning to knit manually multicolored articles such as argyle socks, the knitter first casts the basic colored strand of yarn on the needle. When the pattern or argyle. is to be woven into the fabric, a varying colored strand of yarn is cast on the needle and the basic colored strand of yarn is left hanging down from the fabric. This procedure is repeated, as the design requires, in knitting across a row, with the number oi strands used depending on the complexity ofv the -desired pattern.

In purling and knitting subsequent rows, the various depending strands of yarn are used and re-used. In changing from one colored strand to another it is necessary that the ball may be moved under and around the previously used strand. In using our invention in this operation, the knitter, by lifting either or both of the twin covers, may maneuver one or more balls of yarn without disturbing the order or disposition of the other balls.

Our invention is described more in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in' which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the yarn holder with the twin covers in closed position, and a portion of an argyle sock being knitted;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the yarn holder with the twin covers in open position; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now. to the several gures in the drawings, they illustrate a yarn holder I0 arranged in accordance with the present invention. It has a conventional, rectangular box shape with a bottom II, side walls I2, end walls I3, and twin covers I 4. The interior I5 is divided by partitions I6 into compartments I1 disposed in collateral rows and adapted for receiving balls of yarn I8. The twin covers I4 are connected to the yarn holder I0 by hinges I9 positioned on the upper edges 20 of the side walls I2. The twin covers I4 are disposed for covering relation with the compartments II.

As shown in Fig. 2, semi-circular openings 2| are spaced in the extending edges 2,2 of the twin covers I4. Upon the closing of the twin covers I4, opposed semi-circular openings 2| merge, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to form circular openings 23. Each of these openings is disposed in spaced relation to two adjacent compartments i and each of the compartments H is adapted to receive one of the balls of yarn I8.

In the knitting operation, the balls of yarn I8 are placed in the compartments I 1, and the strands of yarn 24 are drawn from the balls of yarn i8 and are trained through the circular openings 23. Upon the lifting of either' or both of the twin covers 14, -one or more of the balls of yarn I8 and strands of yarn 2'4 may be moved in any desired manner Without disturbing the other balls of yarn I8 and strands of yarn 24.

Thus our invention, as above described, comprises a simple yet handy device for efectively controlling and manipulating the balls and strands of yarn in manually knitting multicolored articles such as argyle socks.

We claim:

A yarn holder for manually knitting multicolored argyle socks comprising a rectangular box having longitudinally and transversely disposed interior partitions, said partitions forming a plurality of compartments disposed in twin collateral rows in the interior of said box, each compartment being adapted for receiving a ball of yarn, and a top comprising twin covers hinged on the upper vedges of the side Walls of the Vboi: and disposed for covering relation with said compartments, Av Said twin covers being Aprovided .in their extending edges with a plurality of meeting semi-circular openings forming circular openings in said top intermediate its sides and longitudinally thereof, each of said circular openings being disposed in spaced relation to at least two adjacent compartments of said twin rows so that twin strands of yarn drawn from said adjacent compartments may be trained through each of said circular openings, and Iwhereby, upon the opening of one or both 4of vsaid-twin covers, balls and strands of yarn may be maneuvered in the knitting operation without moving the position of the remaining balls and strands of yarn retained in said holder.

EDNA FITTS.

.MARY STRINGFIELD ALLEN.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of vthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date .349,440 Locker Sept. 21,-' 1886 1,640,368 .Obetz Aug. 3o, 1927 FOREIGN "PATENTS Number Country Date .1573-1 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1888 380,087 Great Britain Sept. 1 1932 

